Mechanism for supplying workpieces such as envelopes to the feeding mechanism of a printing press



R. E. sKow 2,853,296 MECHANISM FoR SUPRLYING woRKPIEcEs SUCH As Sept.23, 1958 ENvELoPEs To THE FEEDING MEcHANIsM 0F A PRINTING PRESS FiledMarch 2, 1,956

7 SheetsfSheet 1 hui www E si /WJr/MIW INVENTOR. Fas: E. 550W ml ll mmR. mw www TTRNEY Sept. 23, 1958 R. E. sKow 2,853,296

MECHANISM FOR SUPPLYING WORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES TO THE FEEDINGMECHANISM OF A PRINTING PRESS Filed March 2, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

BY R055 15 /ron/ wc/5MM@ ATTORNEY R. E. SKOW Sept. 23, 1958 2,853,296MECHANISM FoR SUPPLYING woRKPIEcEs SUCH As ENvELoPEs To THE FEEDINGMECHANISM 0F A PRINTING PRESS '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 2, 1956 um.QW

A'TTOR/VE Y Sept. 23, 1958 R E SKOW 2,853,296 MECHANISM FOR SUPPLYINGWORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES TO THE FEEDING MECHANISM OF' A PRINTINGPRESS Filed March 2, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

BY R055 T5/raw ATTORNEY Sept. 23, 1958 R. E. sKow 2,853,296

' .MECHANISM FOR suPPLYING woRKPIEcEs sucH As Y ENVELOPES TO THE FEEDINGMECHANISM OF A PRINTING PRESS 4Filed March 2, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY,

sept. 23, 195s Filed March 2, 1956 R. E. sKow 2, MECHANISM FOR SUPPLYINGwoRKPIEcEs SUCH As ENvELoPEs To THE FEEDING MECHANISM 0F A PRINTINGPRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 United States Patent O MECHANISM FOR SUPPLYINGWORKPIECES SUCH AS ENVELOPES T THE FEEDING MECHANISM 0F A PRINTING PRESSRoss E. Skow, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Walbert Machine Company,Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application March 2, 1956,Serial No. 569,132

16 Claims. (Cl. 271-5) This invention relates to machines for printingenvelopes and similar articles, and more particularly to a mechanism forsupplying such articles to the feeding mechanism of printing presses ofthe character disclosed in Patent No. 2,635,538, granted to me April 21,1953.

It is explained in this patent that printers and envelope manufacturershave many customers requiring envelopes printed to their specifications,but with present day high production machines for manufacturingenvelopes, it is economically impractical to set up such envelope makingmachines for small quantity runs. To avoid this difficulty, standardstock envelopes can be manufactured in large quantities on such highspeed machines at relatively low cost, and then later printed on themachine of the patent to meet the needs of customers. When the envelopesare manufactured, they are placed in boxes in which they are sold to thetrade. The boxed envelopes are then placed in storage or are deliveredto commercial printing establishments or to jobbers dealing inenvelopes. Then when an order is received for a standard size envelopeto be printed in a special manner, the boxed envelopes are taken fromstorage, the envelopes removed from the boxes and placed in a stack andfed individually by the feeding mechanism of the press through theprinting mechanism. The envelopes, after printing, are counted,assembled in a stack, and replaced in the boxes from which they wereremoved. This work fatigues the operator, because the operator mustshift back and forth from the position in which the supply of envelopesis maintained in the stack to the position where the printed envelopesare reassembled and replaced in their boxes.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide such printing presses with a mechanism that permits the operatorto stand in substantially one and the same position, when emptying theenvelopes from the boxes and when refilling the boxes with printedenvelopes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor located overthe delivery table of the press and which carries the envelopes to thefeed cylinder which removes the envelopes individually and delivers themin sequence to the printing mechanism.

Another object is to provide for automatically controlling feed of theenvelopes to the feeding mechanism of the press responsive to operationand speed of the press, so that the supply of unprinted envelopes isstopped should the feed of the envelopes exceed the rate of withdrawalof the envelopes into the printing mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveying mechanism forthe envelopes which accommodates for any variation in the rate at whichthe operator works.

Other objects are to provide a simple and reliable conveyor mechanismthat may be applied as an attachment to existing presses, to provide astep by step movement of the conveyor substantially in time with theWithdrawal of the envelopes individually for movement through the press,to provide for movement of the envelopes in a close, compact filethrough a curved path so that any slowing down or interruption in thepress retards the progress of 2,853,296 Patented Sept. 23, 1958 ICC theenvelopes to shift the tile of envelopes sufficiently for use inVactuating means to' stop the conveyor, to provide a ratchet actuatorfor the conveyor operable in timed relation with the feeding mechanismof the press, and to provide a connection with the ratchet mechanism torender the ratchet operating mechanism ineffective While the press iscatching up with the delivery of the envelopes.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafterpointed out, I have provided improved structure the preferred form ofwhich is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printing press equipped with anenvelope conveying mechanism embodying the features of the presentinvention.

Figs. 2 and 2-A are a plan view of the envelope conveying mechanism andthe press with which it is associated.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the envelope conveyingmechanism at the delivery end of the press.

Fig. 4 is a substantially central section through the press mechanismfor effecting the step by step movement of the tion of the envelopehandling conveyor and which is responsive to change in contour of the leof envelopes being delivered to the withdrawal cylinder.

Fig. 8 is a detail View of the driving mechanism for operating the pawlof the ratchet mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the driving mechanism shown in Fig.8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cam lever, supporting bracket,latch and latch operating arm shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a printing press which is constructed in accordance withthe disclosure in the above mentioned patent. In brief, the/printingpress includes a base 2 supporting a printing mechanism 3 and' a feedingand registering mechanism 4 by which envelopes are Withdrawnindividually from a stack or le of unprinted envelopes, registered, andpassed through the printing mechanism for discharge of printed envelopesonto a delivery table 5. The feeding mechanism of the patent includesmeans for supporting unprinted envelopes in stacked relation with theforward edge of the bottom envelope Iin contactwith the periphery of awithdrawal cylinder 6 having ports 7 through which a vacuum is drawn toseize the envelope and carry it from the stack through a pass 8 onto apair of laterally spaced parallel f rails 9 extending from below thewithdrawal cylinder to the printing mechanism 3. The upper edges of therails provide supports for the ends of the envelopes when the vacuum isreleased in the cylinder, substantially as at the time the envelope isengaged by a pressure roll-er 10 that cooperates lwith the cylinder 6 inmoving the envelope along the rails and into position for the rear edgethereof to be engaged by pins 11 -on chains 12, which act to carry theenvelope along the rails and to discharge the envelope between pressurerollers 13, and that release the envelope from the pins 11 and continuethe advance4 of the envelope. The conveyor chains 12 have upper runspositioned alongside the respective rails and operate over sprockets 14and 15 that are carried on horizontal shafts 16 and 17. The shaft 16 isdriven, as shown in the patent, by means of a motor through a drivingconnection designated by the chain 18. The driving connection isillustrated in detail in the above mentioned patent, but specificallyforms no part of the present invention, the point being that theconveyor chains are in continuous motion to convey the envelopes intimed -relation with the printing mechanism.

The withdrawal cylinder 6 is similarly driven through a chain 19 thatoperates over a sprocket 20 on the shaft 21 of the withdrawal cylinder,as best -shown in Fig. 5. While the envelope is being moved along therails, the side edges thereof are engaged between guide rails 22 (Fig.4) to register the envelope in a sidewise direction with respect to theplate on the printing cylinder 23. The envelope is registered in timedrelation with rotation of the printing cylinder by the relative positionof the pins to the printing plate as is described in the patent.

A positive contact of the envelope is maintained with the pins through abrush 24 that bears on the envelope'. As the gripping rollers 13 arereleased from engagement with the envelope, the envelope is engaged onthe opposite side of the printing cylinder 23 by pressure rollers 25that cooperate with the impression cylinder 26 of the press incontinuing advance of the envelope and holding the registry thereof withthe printing plate until the envelope is dropped onto conveyor belts 27which have their upper runs extending along the top of the table tocarry the envelope into contact with an inclined stop 2S. The envelopesfollow each other in closely spaced apart relation until they aredischarged onto the conveyor belts 27, which belts are operated at aspeed relative to the cylinders 23 and 26 of the printing mechanism sothat the envelopes are partially lapped one upon the other as theytravel toward the stop 28. In this way the envelopes slide intoface-to-face contact when the foremost envelopes slides up the face ofthe stop 28. The operator, standing alongside of the table, gathers theenvelopes from the stop and places them in one of the empty boxes fromwhich unprinted envelopes were taken to supply the stack.

To assure that the desired number of printed envelopes may be placed ineach box, for example, every onehundredth envelope is pushed out of lineby an arm 29 which is operated on every hundred revolutions of theprinting cylinders or as may be required. The operator then picks up thepacks lof envelopes between the envelopes which are pushed out of file,and places them in the box. This procedure is followed in like manneruntil a sufficient number of envelopes are placed in the -box to make upthe original number.

In addition to lling the boxes with printed envelopes, the operator ofthe machine must keep the supply of unprinted envelopes in the stack.This requires that the operator move back and forth from the table tothe stack. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, theprinting press is equipped with a conveying mechanism 30 to facilitatehandling of the envelopes by the operator while stationed at thedelivery table. In carrying out the present invention the envelopeconveying or handling mechanism includes an upper table 31 on which theunprinted envelopes are placed and carried to the withdrawal cylinder,as now to be described.

The table 31 includes spaced apart longitudinal members 32 and 33 thatare supported at one -end by the delivery end of the table 5. Themembers 32 and 33 extend across the top of the printing mechanism andterminate forwardly from the withdrawal cylinder where they areconnected with downwardly curved side arms 34 and 35 having ends 36thereof that are attached to side members 37 and 38 of the frame whichsupports the withdrawal cylinder, the ends being attached by fasteningdevices 39. The opposite ends of the longitudinal members 32 and 33 areconnected by a cross member 40 and are supported on arms 41 and 42 whichare pivotally connected therewith by fastening devices 43. The lowerends of the arms 41 and 42 curve under the end of the delivery table andare pivotally connected as at 44 with arms 45 projecting from a crossshaft 46 having its ends journaled in legs 47 that support the end ofthe delivery table 5. The arms 45 are fixed in an adjusted position by aplate 43 fixed to the end of the cross shaft 46 and which is adapted tobe clamped to one of the legs 47 by means of 'a bolt 49. The bolt 49extends through an arcuate slot 50 in the plate and when tightenedresults in holding the table 31 at a height suitable to the convenienceof the operator. The longitudinal members carry a table top 51 thatextends in a fore and aft direction, from the cross member 4t) to thejuncture of the longitudinal members 32 and 33 with the downwardlycurved arms 34 and 35. The connection of the longitudinal members 37 and38 with the forward end of curved arms 34 and 35 is by brackets 52 andS3 rigidly fixed to the ends of the members 32 and 33. The brackets haveears which'are secured to the curved arms by bolts 54.

Slidable under the outer end of the upper table is a yoke 55 that ismovable to and from the cross member 40 by means of adjusting screws 56to carry a shaft 57. The shaft 57 has theends thereof freely journaledin arms 'and'59 of the yoke 55. Carried on the shaft 57' is av'pair ofpulleys 6G that cooperate with" similar pairs of pulleys 6l to carryendless belts 62 and 63 having upper runs 64 thereof extending along theupper surface of the table top. The pair of pulleys 61 are carried on aldriving shaft 65 which has its ends journaled in bearings 66 carried bythe brackets 52 and 53 (Fig. 7).

Therefore, when the unprinted envelopes are placed on the upper tablewith edges thereof bearing upon the runs 64 of the belts 62 and 63, theyare carried thereby along the table in the direction of the withdrawalcylinder 6. In order to guide the envelopes with the sides thereof inregistry, the table 51 carries side guides 67 and 63. The guides`67 and68 preferably comprise angles, each having one ange arranged verticallyto engage the sides of the venvelopes and the other flanges turnedoutwardly for'support on pairs of links 69-70 and 7i-72. The links arefixed to swing on the longitudinal members 32 and 33 of the table byfastening devices such as bolts 73. The opposite `ends of the links arepivotally connected with outwardly extending flanges of the guide railsby bolts 74 that extend through the anges of the guide rails and throughthe ends of the links, as best shown in Fig. 3. To retain the guiderails in adjusted position relative to the envelopes, the bolts 74 carrycoil springs 75 that press against the upper faces of the flanges of theguide rails and against washers 76 that are backed by nuts 774 on thebolts to exert suicient frictional pressure between the flange of theguide rails and the links to retain the guide rails in adjusted spacedapart relation. The guide 68 extends the full length of the upper table51 to form a backl stop whereby the operator automatically centers theenvelopes on the upper runs of the belts. The guide 67, however, beginsshort of the operators station to avoid interference with placement ofthe envelopes on the belts. The unprinted envelopes on reaching the endof the table are shifted onto downwardly curved supports 78 and 78', nowto be described.

Extending from the side frames 37 and 38 of the printing press is ahorizontal frame 30 and mounted on this frame are foot portions 81 ofthe supports 78 and 78. The foot portions 81 are slotted and fixed tothe frame 80 by bolts 82 that extend through the slots and into thesupporting frame therefor, whereby the supports are adjusted to and fromfixed guides 83, later described. Thc upper ends of the curved supportshave terminals 84 extending along the sides of the upper runs of thebelts to facilitate movement of the envelopes from the belts to 4,thesupports. The guides 83 are curved to cooperate with the curved supportsto pass the envelope therebehas its ends carried by the side members 37and 38` which support the withdrawal cylinder. Thev rear edges of theenvelopes are-supported on downwardly sloping lingers 79 that areadjustable in a vertical direction on the guides 7S and 78,'as shown inFig. 4.

To facilitate control of the downward feed of the envelopes and to holdback the envelopes while an envelope is being withdrawn by thewithdrawal-cylinder, the cross bar 85 also carriesV a bracket 86 forattaching a vertical control member 87 which carries a rubber strip 88having a terminal 89 curving downwardly and rearwardly in bearingcontact with the surface of the withdrawal cylinder. The bracket 86 haslaterally directed ears 90 to support an adjusting screw 91 which passesthrough a lug 92 on the control member 87, so that the curvature of therubber terminal and `the pressure thereof on the face of the withdrawalcylinder may be changed to assure Withdrawal of a single envelope, whilethe other envelopes are retained betweenvthe curved supports and outercurved guides. j

To relieve the weight of the upper envelopes from the lower envelopes,the frame 80 carries a bracket 94 which is adjustably mounted thereon toposition an arm 95 that depends therefrom. The arm 95 has a projectingend 96 to engage between and support the upper envelopes in the stackfrom bearing upon the envelopes immediately over the withdrawal cylinder6 (Fig. 4). The arm 95 is adjusted by a screw 97, which is carried bythe bracket 94 and bears against the arm 95. y

Pivotally supported from the bar 85 are depending arms 99 which carry across bar 100` LAdjustably supported on the cross bar 160 are arcuateguides 101 which cooperate with the cylindrical face of the withdrawalcylinder in providing the pass 8 previously referred to. The envelopesare kept in aligning registry in a sidewise direction by vertical rods102 and 103 that are mounted on the sides of the frame 30. y

To effect an orderly progress of the envelopes as they` move from thehorizontal table to the withdrawal cylinder, the table top 51 carriesmeans 104 for raising the envelopes slightly as they pass thereover.This means effects loosening of the contact between the envelopes sothat they better adjust themselves -to the curvature of the guides;Means is also provided for applying a resilient pressure to side andouter edges of the envelopes to hold the envelopes in file, but whichyields to permit a slight outward bulging of the file of envelopes undercertain conditions as they round the curvature of the guides, as now tobe described.

Extending upwardly from the arms 34 and 35 at the sides of the deliveryend of the upper table 31 are plates 184 and 105 that extend upwardlyabove the file of envelopes and carry a rod 106 therebetween, the endsof the rod being 'fixed in the plates by cap screws 167.

Loosely mounted on the midportion of the rod 106 between collars 108 isa bracket 109 (Fig. 2). Fixed to the bracket 109 and extending forwardlyand downwardly over the upper edges of the envelopes is a r-esilientarcuate band 110 which has its lower end registering with the'controlmember 87, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Pressure is applied to the side edges of the envelopes by means ofresilient extensions 111 and 112 that are attached to the ends of theside guides 67 and 68, previously described.

Since the feed of envelopes by the withdrawal cylinder is of necessity-an intermittent operation, the present inventiOn contemplates acorresponding intermittent, or step by step, operation of the conveyorbelts 62 and 63 which feed the envelopes along the length of the uppertable 31 and apply pressure to the rounding tile of envelopes, therebyassuring movement of the envelopes into feeding contact with thewithdrawal cylinder 6. This is accomplished by means of an intermittentdrive for the shaft 65, as now to be described.

assegna Fixed to one end of the shaft is a ratchet wheel 113 havingperipheral teeth 114. shaft 65 between the ratchet wheel and thelongitudinal `member 33 is a bell crank lever 115 having one ear 116carrying a pawl 117 (Figs. 5 and 6), the pawl 117 being pivotallymounted on a stud 118 that is supported in the ear 116. The other ear119 of the bell crank is connected as at 121i with a link 121. Theopposite end of the link 121 is pivotally connected as at 122 with anarm 123 of a bell crank 124. The 4other arm 125 of the bell crank isconnected by a bar 126 with a cam lever 127 of an actuating mechanism(Figs. 4, 5, 8, 9 and l0), which is mounted on the side member 37 of thepress frame at a point below the withdrawal cylinder 6 and in a positionto be driven from the shaft 15 of the pin conveyor chains 12. The camlever 127 is pivotally connected with the frame as at 128 and the freeend is connected with the depending end of the bar 126 by a bolt 129, asbest shown in Figs. 5 and 9. The cam lever 127 carries a cam follower inthe form of a roller 130 that is rotatably mounted on a stud 131 whichprojects laterally from the cam lever, as best shown in Fig. l0. y

Rotatably mounted on a stud 132 that projects from the frame at a po-intabove the catn follower is a cam 133 and fixed in driving relation withthe cam is a gear 134. The earn lever 127 is yieidingly retained withthe cam follower 1319 in contact with the periphery of the cam 133 by acoil spring 135 having one end fixed to a pin 136 that projects from oneside of the cam lever and the other end connected with a lug 137 that isfixed to the frame at a point above the gear 134, as shown in Fig. 5.Also carried Iby the frame is a stub shaft 138 and rotatably thereon inmeshing relation with the teeth of the gear 134 is a pinion gear 139.Fixed in driving relation with the pinion gear 139 is a sprocket 14!which is driven from a sprocket 141 on the conveyor shaft-by means of achain 142 operating over the respective sprockets.

It is thus obvio-us that actuation of the pin conveyer chains alsoeffects rotation of the cam 133 to oscillate the cam lever 127 and rockthe bell cranks 124 and 114 through the rod 126 and link 121, so thatwhen the cam 133 moves the cam lever in a downward direction, the springstretches and the pawl 117 is carried in a clockwise direction, Fig. 5,to effect a step rotation of the ratchet wheel 113 and an advance of theconveyor belts 62 and 63. When the spring 135 contacts, the cam lever israised thereby and the pawl 117 is returned to its original position forengaging another tooth of the ratchet wheel on the next revolution ofthe cam, consequently as the envelopes are withdrawn by the withdrawalcylinder 6 and carried toward the printing mechanism by the pinconveyor, corresponding movements are applied to the unprinted envelopeson the conveyor belts 62 and 63 to maintain a supply of envelopes in thearcuate portion of the file of envelopes.

In order to control movement of the envelopes to the withdrawal cylinderat a rate for maintaining a desired pressure on the portion o-f the fileof envelopes directly above the withdrawal cylinder, means is providedfor starting and stopping the step by step feed of the envelopes.Oscillatably journaled in the plate extension 104 is a shaft 144 whichcarries an arm 145 that curves over the rod 106 and which carries anenvelope contacting member, which in the illustrated instance is a wheel146. Fixed on the end of the shaft at the outer side of the extensionplate 104 is a lever 147 in the form of a segment in order to provideroom for an arcuate scale indicated at 148. Also mounted on the end ofthe shaft between the lever 147 and the plate 104 is a lever 149 whichprojects beyond the arcuate edge of the lever 147 and carries a pointer150 to move over the scale 148. The lever 149 is adjustably secured tothe lever 127 by means of a screw 151 having the shank thereof extendV`ing through an arcuate slot y153 in the lever 147 and into jOscillatable on the,

the routerside of the"lever147 and the lever 149 into'l contact with-theinner face y.o f the lever 147.

By setting.thellever149'relatively to the scale 148 and tightening thescrew 151, the levers operate `as a unit when the wheel 146 moves up anddown responsive to radialor outward bulging of the rounding le ofenvelopes, as previously referred to. The lever 149 terminates in=an ear155` that engages a roller 156 on an actuating.armf157 of a microswitch158. The microswitch 158 is mounted on the plate 104 with thev roller156 thereof in position to be engaged by the ear 155 of the lever 149,'so that .the lever 4149depresses the arm 157 of the switch158 when thetile of envelopes follows the arcuate guides v78 and 78.', ,but shouldvthe feed of envelopes become too great inproportion to withdrawalthereof byv the cylinder 6, thefile of envelopes will bulge outwardlyagainst the yieldable guide band 1'10 to raise the-roller 146, rockthefshafty 144,v and move the ear 155 out of Contact with the vroller156 ofthemicroswitch 158. The microswitchlSS is connected in circuitwith an electromagnet-159`which is adjustably mounted on a bracket160-tha`t is carried on the frame of-the press at a point,

below the cam lever 127, asV best shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9; Theelectromagnet 159 hasan armature or plunger 16I Vthat isconnected bya'pin 162 with an arm 163. The arm 163 is loosely supported on a rockshaft 16.4 that projects laterally from the .bracket 160 (Fig. 8) .andcarries a latch 165 which is connected with the ar'm 163 byinterfittinglugs 163'. The lugs on the arm 163 andthose of the latchhave a loose tit to allow slight movement ofthe latch 165 in a clockwisedirection (Figs.4 8 *and`9) in opposition to a spring 168. Thelatch 165has la hook portion 166 which engages over a p in 167 that projects fromthe side of the cam lever. The latch is normally retained in a retractedposition by the weight of thepplunger 161-of the electromagnet 159, soas to permit' continued operation ofthe cam lever 127 for step bystepmovement ofthe envelopes. However, when thearm`l145`is lifted, theroller, of the microswitch 159V is released 'and a circuit is closedthrough the electromagnet 159. l Energization of `the electromagnetlifts the pln'g'erf'161 vto'rock the lever 163, and because ofthelug"connection 163' the'latch lever`165 is rocked in acountercl'ockwise direction (Fig. 9) and into position to sible'becauseof the looseI tit'between the connecting lugsy 163. As soon asthe pin ha'spassed the hooked end ofl theilatch thespring 168 snaps thehook 166-over the pin167,to"holdldown thecam lever until the microswitchagain"opens the' circuit to the electromagnet.

Thesh'aft 65 i's preferably provided with a hand wheel 171". wherebythe' conveyor belts may be manipulated by hand independentlyof theratchet mechanism, as when chrgingthe'feeding' mechanismwith unpr-intedenvelopes orgotherwis'e adjusting ,the le of'envelopes supplied tothefeedi'ng mechanism of the printing-press. A weighted back stopis usedupon the belts 62 and 63 of the `conveyorttoaback the venvelopes andassure positive movementi thereof.v

The apparatus constructed andvassembled as described is operatedasfollows:

It is first necessary to initially'll the le of unprinted envelopes.from .the point of thewithdrawal cylinder 6 positic'mflonltheuppe'rtable adjacent the operators sta- 8f, 145 is ,also` lifted fand swung :'backwardlyto)y clear f the", space between'the extensionsA111;land- 112 of `the'longiav tudinal guides67 and 68. This-leaves thespace open for insertion `of 'the envelopes andftogfacilitateadjustments to the size of the envelopes.: The "guides 78 and 78'I arethen yadjusted on the frame 80-to space themfrom the outer curved guides83 in accordance with the size of the unprinted envelopes to be runthrough the press. The longitudinal guidesr 67 and 68-arethen adjustedto'j and from each other in accor'dancevwith the widthof the envelopesto be run. This is easily effected lby Swinging of the links thatsupport yther'n and the links assure: parallelism of the guides at alltimes. After these'adjustments, envelopes are placed by hand in thespace be-V tween ythe vresilientl extensionsI 111'and 112 from wherethey are moved downwardly into the space between the'f guides 83 and78-78' until the vface of the foremostl envelope rests withione marginaledge upon the'pe-H ripheryv ofy the withdrawal cylinder 6 and theopposite' marginal edge rests upon the supports 79, as shown in' Fig. 4.The finger 96 is adjusted to relieve'the pressure" of the upperenvelopes in the tile of envelopes from the envelopes immediately overthe `withdrawal cylinder 6.' The le of `envelopes"iscontinued up thearcuate guides 78-78 and onto the belts 62 and 63 up'to the" end of theside guide 67. The arcuate guide or 'retainer is vthen returned ltoa'position 'resting upon the outer edges of the-'rounding portion ofVt-he file of envelopes to' hold the'envelopes yieldingly upon theguides .78-78"A and to maintain thenormaly curvature of the file. TheIarm is returned'to its'original p osition where y'the roller` 146-bearson the outer edges vof the envelopes to rise/5 and fall with anyAoutward vmovement orbulgingv of the." iile of envelopes'to controlthemicroswitch. The vscrew 151 is loosened and Vtlle armis'adjustedrelatively to the-'- arm 147y so as tomaintain normal contact withth'e'rollelvv 156 lof the microswitch 158, as best shownin-Figsfl'v and4. When this adjustment Ais made, the screw `151 is' retightened so thatthe levers 147' and`149 are connected tomove asa unit. When 'the last ofthe envelopes is inl,- place on-1the Ibelts 62 and 63, a back stop 172is placedupon the belts and moved against the envelopes."

When vthe press'isin operation, the'withdrawal cylinder 6 removes theenvelopes 4from thebottom of the file; one at a time, and carries theminto position on'the' rails 9," where they are advanced into positiontoy be" picked'up bythe pins 11 on the conveyor chains 12. Theenvelopesl are registered on the rails 9 in both transverse and forwarddirections 'and deliveredv to the pressurey Y rolls 13, which start themthrough the printing mechanism Y and between the printing and impressioncylinders 23 and 26 to effect printing thereon, all described inthe"above mentioned patent. As an envelope is released by" the rollers 13,the forward portion, upon emerging fromv the printing cylinder,isengaged by a pressure roller 25y which cooperates with the Aimpressioncylinder in continuing 'withdrawal' of the envelope and discharge of theenvelope onto "the belts-27 of the delivery conveyor. The` envelopes arenow 'carried-on the belts along thedelivery table at a slower rate ofspeed so that they arepartially overlapped, as shown in Fig. l, andvarerultimately gathered into a stack forrepacking in the boxes fromwhich unprinted envelopes were originally removed. A count is maintainedAof the envelopes to be placed in the boxes by the operator noting theenvelopes which are tion." Tliis'is'accomplishedby lifting the arcuateband 110 pushed out' of line by the arm 29. For example, the arm 29 maybe set so that every hundredth envelope is de-l flected. This is mostconvenient because each box usually contains 500 envelopes, althoughvother multiples may be l usedas desired.A When one or more boxes maybe'illed with printed envelopes, a like number of boxes may be emptiedof unprintedenvelopes and the unprinted eny velopes arepl'aced upon `theconveyor belts 22 and -23 of the upper .or supplyrtablefto'keepvthe,supplyin keep! ingN with ltheV output ofthe press.The 'back stop -172isl` envelopes to maintain a closed orderly le ofunprinted envelopes.

The envelopes are advanced along the upper table and down the guides78-78 simultaneously with feed of the press by means of the ratchetmechanism, that is, the cam lever 127 is operated by the cam 133, whichis driven through the gears 134, 139, sprocket, 140, chain 142 andsprocket 141 from the shaft of the pin conveyor. On each revolution ofthe cam, the cam lever is moved downwardly through engagement of the camwith the cam follower 130, and the cam lever is lifted through thespring 135. This effects oscillation of the bell crank 115 which carriesthe ratchet pawl in a back and forth direction through the linkconnection 126, bell crank 124 and link 125, to move the ratchet wheel113 and shaft 65 intermittently and effect a step by step advance of theenvelopes. The operation continues `as long as the operator maintainsthe supply of unprinted envelopes on the conveyor belts and removes theprinted envelopes from the conveyor belt of the delivery table 5.

It is obvious that in the removal and replacement of the envelopes onthe conveyor belts of the respective tables, the operator may maintainhis station at the side of the delivery table, and there is no necessityof his moving from one end of the press to the other, as in the case ofthe press which is described in the above mentioned patent.

It may happen that the feed of the envelopes to the withdrawal cylindermay become faster than the rate of withdrawal by the withdrawalcylinder, in which case it becomes necessary to stop the conveyor belts62 and 63 until the withdrawal cylinder catches up. When this occurs,stopping 4of the feed is automatic, because the rounding portion of thefile of envelopes will be pushed radially away from the guides 78-78.This change in contour of the le lifts the arm 145 and moves theterminal 155 away from the roller of the microswitch 158. This closescircuit to the electromagnet 159, so that the plunger is actuated toeifect movement of the latch 165 into engagement with the pin 167 whenthe cam 133 moves the cam lever 127 downwardly as above described. Thecam lever 127 is then retained by the latch 165 in its lowest positionas the cam moves away from the cam follower 130. The cam may thencontinue to turn, but the cam lever remains inactive and there is nofurther advance of the envelopes by the ratchet mechanism until thewithdrawal of a suicient number of envelopes by the cylinder 6 to causethe tile of envelopes to settle back into normal psition upon thearcuate guides 78-78. When this occurs, the terminal 155 of the lever149 reengages the roller of the microswitch to open the circuit to theelectromagnet 159. The plunger 161 then becomes effective in withdrawingthe latch 165 from the pin 167. The cam lever 127 is then freed tomaintain contact with the cam 133 under action of the spring 135. Thefeed continues, as described, until such a time that the feed by thebelts 62 -and 63 becomes sufficient to again cause bulging of the fileof envelopes, whereupon the feed by the ratchet mechanism is againautomatically suspended until the removal of the envelopes by thewithdrawal cylinder is suilicent to restore the file of unprintedenvelopes to its normal position and contour.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a positivemechanism for maintaining a supply of unprinted envelopes for thewithdrawal cylinder of a press of the type disclosed in the abovementioned patent, in such a manner that the operator of the press mayremain at the side of the delivery table. The only movement required ofthe operator is to place unprinted envelopes on the upper table and toremove the printed envelopes from the lower table. This also permitspacking the printed envelopes in the boxes emptied of the unprintedenvelopes, to better keep the supply of unprinted envelopes in balancewith the capacity of the printing press.

What I claim and desire ltorsecure by Letters Patent ist' 1. Incombination, a printing press for printing envelopes having means forfeeding unprinted envelopes individaully through the printing press anddischarging the printed envelopes from the press, an upper conveyingmeans leading from an operators station and over the printing press tosaid feeding means and on which boxed envelopes are emptied from boxesfor edgewise support on said conveying means for supplying the printingpress with unprinted envelopes, and a lower means connected with thedelivery of the printing press for gathering the printed envelopes andconducting the printed envelopes away from the printing press to theoperators station for replacement by the operator in said boxes.

2. In combination, a printing press for printing envelopes having meansfor feeding unprinted envelopes individually through the printing pressand discharging the printed envelopes from the press, an upper conveyingmeans leading from an operators station and movable over the printingpress to said feeding means and on which boxed envelopes are emptied foredgewise support on said conveying means for supplying the printingpress with unprinted envelopes, a lower means connected with thedelivery of the printing press for gathering the printed envelopes inedgewise support thereon and returning the printed envelopes to theoperators station for replacement by the `operator into said boxes, andmeans for operating said conveying means intimed relation with thefeeding means of the printing press.

3. In combination, a printing press for printing envelopes having meansfor feeding unprinted envelopes individually through the printing pressand discharging the printed envelopes, an upper conveying means leadingfrom an operators -station over the printing press to said feeding meansand on which boxed envelopes are emptied by the operator for movement inedgewise support to the printing press, a lower means connected with thedelivery of the printing press for gathering printed envelopes on edgeand conducting the printed envelopes to the operators station forreboxing thereof, and means for operating said conveying means in timedrelation with the feeding means, said conveying means including meansfor retaining the unprinted envelopes in an orderly file.

4. In combination, a printing press for printing envelopes having meansfor feeding unprinted envelopes indi-- vidually through the printingpress and discharging the printed envelopes, conveying means leadingfrom an operators station to said feeding means and on which boxedenvelopes are emptied for supplying the printing press with unprintedenvelopes, means connected with the delivery of the printing press-forgathering printed envelopes and conducting the printed envelopes to theoperators station for reboxing thereof, means for operating saidconveying means in timed relation with the feeding means, said conveyingmeans including means for retaining the unprinted envelopes in anorderly file, and means responsive to change in contour of said iile fordisconnecting said operating means for stopping the conveying means.

5. In combination with a press for printing workpieces, means forfeeding the Workpieces through the press, a lower delivery tableconnected with the press for receiving the printed workpieces, means onthe delivery table for gathering the printed workpieces together forconvenient handling at an operators station alongside of the deliverytable, an upper work supply table in reach of the operators station forplacement of unprinted workpieces thereon, means on the work supplytable for conveying the unprinted workpieces on edge in an orderly tile,guide means connecting the work supply table with the feeding means forcontinuing movement of the le of unprinted-envelopes to the feedingmeans, means having a driving connection with the press and connectedwith the conveying means on the work supply table for operating saidconveying means for effecting advance of the leof workpieces invaccordance with the feed of the fworkpieces by fsaid feeding -meansL 6;Inl combination with 'a'pressf for printing'fworkl pieces, means forfeeding theworkpieees through the'- press, a delivery :table connectedwith` the press 'for 'ref ceiving the.' printed workpieces; means onthe-deliveryA table for gatheringthe printed "workpieces together forconvenient handling-at anro'perators stationfaloiigsidel of thedeliveryltable,'a work supply table inrea'ch of the operator forplacement of 'unprinted' workpieces thereon, means on-.thework'supply'table Vforconveying the un# printedworkp'ieces oned'ge'in-anV orderly file,` guide means connecting the work supplytable,with`theffeedingfmeans for continuingV movement of Vthe vfile ofunprinted envelopes tol l.the Afeedingsmeans, 'means having 'a drivingconnection-With'the press and :connected withfthe conveyingfmeanson'theworkfsupply 'table'for operating saidy conveying meansgand 'a ratchetmeans in saidl drivingl meansfor effectingfstep i by'i step Jadvance off the le' of workpieces'v inl accordance'with feed rof the workpiecesthi'ough'the press by said feeding-means.'y

7. Incombinationfwith a` press for printingi worlpieces',T meansy forifeeding the workpieces *through the press; a 'delivery ltable connected'with theipress'forre" ceivingthe" printed workpieces'," means on theVdelivery table 'forl gathering' theV` printed workpieces together--fo`r convenient` handling-at an operators' staitinfalongside `of thedelivery table, a work supply-ftable'in-reach ofthe operator vfor'placement of lunprinted workpiecesthereon, means` on'thework supply-table for conveying the lun-l pnntedworkpieces on edge inlan orderlyle`,iguide' :means connecting -thc work supply table with the feedingmeans'y frfcontinuing"movement `of the' le of unprinted en! vlopes tothe feeding means, meanshaving a driving connection with the press andconnected with theeonveying means on they work supply 'tableforoperating'said"c0711` veyingI means, a ratchet means'in said drivingmeans for' effecting step by step advance of'the'file 'off workpiecesinaccordance withv feeding `ofthe workpieces through the press, meansvfor controllin'gthe ratchet means to stop the workpiececonveying means,a feeler having con-n nection with-the ratchet means and adapted tolcontact the file of envelopes for *stopping-advanceof Vthe envelopesontchange incontou'r `of the file of envelopes.

8i Incombination with'a press for printing'workpieces,4 means forfeeding the workpieces throughfthe press, a delivery table connectedwith: the press 4'for receivingfthe printed workpieces, means'on `thedelivery tabl'efor gatherv` ing -the printed rworkpiecesv together forconvenient hani. dling `at anfoperatons stationalongside ofA theAdelivery" table,a.work supply table over thedelivery table and terr"minatingabove the feeding means,` means onthe "workv supply table forconveying the unprinted workpieces on edge inan orderly file, downwardlycurving guide means` connecting: the conveying means'on the work tablewithiv: thefeeding means forcontinuingmovementof" the ile'y ofyunprinted envelopes in an arcuate path tothel feeding' i means, meanshaving a driving connection with the press and connected withthe'conveying means on-the worksupply table for operatingsaid conveyingmeans, a means in said driving 'means for electingstep by stepk advance'of the leof workpieces in accordance with the means for feeding the'workpieces through thepress; andmeans' responsive to a changeincurvature'of lsaid file of envelopes while "in said means for stoppingadvance vofthe workpiecesv by said drivingmeans'f l 9""In"combiationwitli a'printing press for printing envelopes,`means forfeedingunprinted envelopes through'V th'e 'pressi'including,y a withdrawalcylinder for supplying theunprinted envelopes* individually to theprinting press, a work` ytable-for receiving the'print'edenvelopes fromthe printing"press',y `meanston the? work table for'gathering theprintedl ',envelopes, 'a lsu'pplyitable; means`-supporting the44supplytable fover'- the -vdeliv'ery tablef-guidemeans connect# ed withthe supply table and curving downwardly over the withdrawal cylinder,conveyor belts having upper'runsextending *along :the supply table`'fo'rl delivering vand maing tainingl a file of'envelopes infthe'downwardly curved 'guider means'to supplythe 'withdrawalecylinden laresilient and yieldablev member-extendingdownwardly=over the curvingfile-of envelopes \tomaintain` a normal curvature vofthe file;`drivingrmeans having a ldriving connection with 'the' conveyorbelts'ifor `effec'ting'advance ofthe `fle ofr en-y velope'stothe-withdrawalv cylinder, movable meansi'for engagingthe "curvingilef ofenvelopes and adapted f to 'f move'withichange inicuvatureoffthele ofenvelopes;

and means-connecting said'mov'able meanswith said drivf ing means forstopping f th'e' i conveying` means responsive td change in' curvatureofv the-file of envelopes; i

10;' 'Infcombination withl a'p-rintingpress 'for 'printing envelopes,`means vforrzfe'eding unprintedenvelop'es th'rogl thefpress including," aWithdrawal cylinder for"supplying the unprintedenvelopes individually tothe"printingpr'ss;" a work supply table, means'supporting'the-work'supply'f above: the" withdrawalv cylinder; guidel means'connected with'the work supply table "and curving downwardly* over thewithdrawal cylinder,A conveyor belts having' upper runs extending-#alongthe supplyf'table for dli'vering'fandmaintaining -a iileL`off'envelopesin'the downwardly curve'df'f -gidcmeans to supply -thewithdrawal cylinder, a res'ilientf'x Vand yieldable member extendingdownwardly overthe" curving file of envelopes to normallymaintain'thecurv'la-w ture ofth "le,"'meansforloperating said belts,anar'm having pivotal'support above the curved guide means and having 'apart adaptedy to contact edges ofthe envelopes,H andcontrolmeansconnecting said arm with the'isaidf' operating fineans' lforstopping movement ofl the'rbelts re` sponsive toj movement of said arm:upon 'changein curva-l ture oftheffleof envelopesto'control feed of theenvelopes to the'withdrawal cylinder; Y

11.' `In 'combination with a printing lpress for'printing-ienvelopes'jiawithdrawal vcylinder for feeding'unprinted envelopes"individually: to' theprintingf press,y a supply l' table; meanssupporting the supply table 'abovethewith drawal.' cylinder, guide meansin vconnection with 'the'l supply table andv curving 'downwardly overtheI with; drawalcylin'derya conveyor extending along the supply tablefor 'maintaining-a file-of unprinted envelopes in the downwardlycurvedguidermean's to 'supply -the withdrawal cylinder," aresilient memberextending downwardly `over the curving fiile of envelopes to maintain a'normal curva! turegofv the file,`a,ratchet having a driving-connectionwith the conveyor for effecting', intermittent -advance of the:unprinted envelopes to the-,withdrawal cylinder, a cam, a drivingconnection between the cam anda part 'of said feeding'means foractuating the cam, a cam 'lever in contact with. the cam, meansconnectingrthe cam lever `with the ratchet means', -a llatch `adapted toengage a part on kthe caml lever, an elctrornagnet connected with thelatch forl withdrawingf'the latch froni'eng-agement withsaid'part of'the cam "lever, an electric circuit for supplying current totheelectromagnet; a'switch in said circuit, an arm"v having pivotal supportabove thel curving ofV the`curved `file of .envelopes and having a partadapted to contact the' envelopes, and nieansconnectingsaid arm with'said 'switch i for'ac'tuatingthe 'switchto' effect releaseof thela'tch'foi"l engagement of the latch with said part ofthel cam leverltorstopfoperation I-of th'e'ratchetiwhen the arm'is movedresponsivetochangeffrom said 'normall curvature of the legof envelopestostop feed'of the envelopes to the" withdrawal cylinder.

12. `In an apparatus of the charact'erdescribed, means" for-feeding-unprinted envelopes to a withdrawal cylinderVforfeedingunprintedenvelopes individually to a printing press, a supplytable, means supporting the supply-table'Y -above the withdrawalcylinder, Aguide means connectedr with thesupplytable andfcurvingdownwardly over the.l withdrawaly cylinder, vtlconveyorV on the tablefor'ideliveringz a le of envelopesthroughthe downwardly.curvedguide'`means to the withdrawcylinder,"a 'resilient'andyield able memberextending downwardly over the curving tile of envelopes to maintain asubstantially normal curvature in the iile of envelopes, ratchet meanshaving a driving connection with the conveyor for effecting intermittent@advance of the ile of envelopes to the withdrawal cylinder, a cam,driving means for actuating the cam, -a'cam lever in Contact with thecam, means connecting the cam lever with the ratchet means, a latchadapted to engage the cam lever, an electromagnet connected with thelatch for withdrawing the latch from engagement with the cam lever, anelectric current supply for energizing the electromagnet, -a switch forcontrolling the current supply to the electromagnet, an arm havingpivotal support above the curved iile of envelopes and having a partadapted to contact the envelopes, and means connecting said arm with theswitch to -actuate the switch for releasing the latch to engage the camlever and stop operation of the ratchet means when the arm is movedresponsive to change in curvature of the file of envelopes to stop feedof the envelopes to the withdrawal cylinder.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, means for feedingunprinted envelopes to -a withdrawal cylinder for feeding unprintedenvelopes individully to a printing press, a supply table, meanssupporting the supply table `above the withdrawal cylinder, guide meansconnected with the supply table and curving downwardly over thewithdrawal cylinder, a `conveyor on the table for delivering a file ofenvelopes on edge and in face conta-ct to the downwardly curved guidemeans for progress through the guide means responsive to pressureeffected by said conveyor, and means on the table and over which theedges of the envelopes ride for shifting the envelopes to loosen theface to face contact when the envelopes are' moved from said table inthe guide means.

14. ln an apparatus of the character described, means for feedingunprinted envelopes to a withdrawal cylinder for feeding unprintedenvelopes individually to a printing press, a supply table, meanssupporting the supply table above the withdrawal cylinder, inner andouter guides curving downwardly over the withdrawal cylinder, a conveyoron the table for delivering a file of envelopes between the downwardlycurved guide means to the withdrawal cylinder, spaced apart side guides,paral- 14 lel links connecting the side guides with the table forcontact with side edges of the envelopes, and extensions carried by theside guides and having portions curving downwardly to cooperate with theinner and' outer guides in directing the file of envelopes to thewithdrawal cy1- inder.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, means for feedingunprinted envelopes to a withdrawal cylinder for feeding unprintedenvelopes individually to a printing press, a supply table, meanssupporting the supply table above the withdrawal cylinder, guide meansconnected with the supply table and curving downwardly over thewithdrawal cylinder, a conveyor on the table for delivering a file ofenvelopes through the downwardly curved guide means to the withdrawalcylinder, and a resilient member extending downwardly over the curvingtile of envelopes to maintain a substantially normal curvature in thefile of envelopes.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, means for feedingunprinted envelopes to a withdrawal cylinder for feeding unprintedenvelopes individually to a printing press, a supply table, meanssupporting the supply table above the withdrawal cylinder, guide meansconnected with the supply table and curving downwardly over thewithdrawal cylinder, a conveyor on the table for delivering a file ofenvelopes through the downwardly curved guide means to the withdrawalcylinder, means for actuating the conveyor, a resilient member extendingdownwardly over the curving tile of envelopes to maintain asubstantially normal curvature in the file of envelopes, and meansresponsive to change in curvature of said le of envelopes forcontrolling the conveyor actuating means. l

